Windlass



Fig. 4, a similar view. Fig. 5

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHAR-LES A. BUOKLIN AND JOHN D. KNOWLTON, 0F CAMDEN, MAINE.

WINDLASS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,956, dated May 1, 1883.

Application filed March 13, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, GHAnLEs A.BUcKL1N and JOHN l). KNOWLTON, of Camden, in the county of Knox and State of Maine, have incat to the pawl-wheel, and for disconnecting the'wild-cat to let it run free.

In its general features our invention comprises a large wheel having ratchet-teeth on its periphery, and keyed upon a drivingshaft, a wild-cat runningloosely on the shaft,

and a sliding catch operated by a cam mounted on the ratchet-wheel, and engaging with notches in a flange or rim of the wild-cat.

The invention also comprises various details of construction, which will be more fully hereinafter explained.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a central longitndinal section; Fig. 2, a cross-section on the line :10 as,- Fig. 3, a front view of the ratchet-wheel with the bcaring-plate removed;

is a front elevation of a modified form.

A represents the driving-shaft, mounted in suitable standards and adapted to be rotated by power from any convenient source. At about the middle of this shaft is keyed or otherwise fixed the large wheel B, which has a peripheral ratchet, with which engages any ordinary style of pawl. The wheel B is formed with a cylindrical projection, C, over which fits the flange or rim to of the wild-cat D. The wild-cat is mounted loosely on the driving shaft. In the face of the projection O is formed a slot, 11, which communicates with a circular chamber, 0, extending entirely through the wheel 13. In this chamber is a shaft, cl, which projects beyond the wheel B, and. has at or near its end holes 6 e, for the insertion of a lever. The opposite end of shaft dextends into the space formed by the slot I), and upon it is mounted an eccentric, f. Surrounding the eccentric, and fitting closely within the slot 1), is a strap, 9, with which is formed a dog or bolt, h. The end of the shaft 01 is journaled in an opening in a plate, 'i, which closes the slot, and also forms a stop for the shoulder j of thebolt h. The rim or flange of the wildcat is provided with notches k k, and as such rim projects over the part (3 of the ratchetwheel, the bolt h is adapted to enter one of such notches, and thereby lock the wild-cat to theratchet-wheel and driving-shaft. This is accomplished by turning the shaft d in either direction by means of the lever, the movement of the cam causing the bolt to project beyond the edge of thechamber which holdsit. When at its lowest position and resting on the stopplate, the end of the bolt is flush with the pe riphery of the part 0.

In Fig. 5 we have shown a modified form of our device. In this case a spur-wheel, l, is keyed upon the projecting end of the shaft d. With this wheel engages a similar gear-wheel, m, loose on the driving-shaft and having a flange, 'n. Upon the flange n are projecting studs o 0, arranged in circles near the edge, by means of which and a suitable lever the gearwheel 'm can be turned. It will readily be seen that as the gear-wheel l is mounted on the shaft of the eccentric motion of the flange n in either direction will operate the bolt and lock or unlock the wild-cat. The flange n and gear-wheel m are held in place upon the driving-shaft by a collar, 1), and screw q.

By-theuse of this mechanism the wild-cat can be instantly disconnected from the driving-shaft under any strain and as quickly connected, and when the driving-shaft is in any position.

What we claim is- 1. The combination, with the ratchet-wheel and with the loose wild-cat, of a sliding bolt and an operatingeccentric mounted in the ratchet-wheel and adapted to engage with the wild-cat.

2. The combination of the driving-shaft, the

ratchet-wheel keyed thereon, the loose wild-cat having a notched rim, a camshaft mounted in the ratchet-wheel, and operating a slidingholt which engages with the notched rim of the wild-eat.

3. The combination, with the chambered ratchet-wheel and with the flanged wild-cat, of the shaft 01, the eccentric, the strap, and the sliding bolt connected to such strap.

4. The chambered ratchet-wheel, in.combination withrt-he shaft, thecam,the slidingvbolt, and the perforated stop-plate.

5. The chambered ratchet-Wheel, in combi- 1 5 nation with the shaft, the cam,the sliding bolt, jgg g if gggg the perforated stop-plate, and the spur-gear,v flange n,'with"theprojecting studs,-and1ever, Witnesses: by means of which the sliding bolt and cam G. L. FOLLANSBEE, are operated. V l WM. EATON.

In testimony whereof we havesigned our 10 namesto'this specification in the "presence of two subscribing witnesses. 

